History Repeats Itself - First Time as Tragedy, Second Time as Farce
I've just learned that the district recently paid $600 to the Chamber of Commerce for two teams to play in the Chamber golf tournament. This time, however, because of my earlier reporting on similar incidents in the past, no one actually played. We're laying off teachers, classroom aides, and support staff, cutting student activities, cutting classroom and instructional supplies, and yet we have money to throw away?
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - THIS MUST END!
$600?!!
ReplyDeleteHigh school teachers were just told they were allotted 600 pages per student, not per class, but total. So, that's 80 some sheets maximum. (copies on front and back count as 2) What happens for those teachers who don't have textbooks and need copies? That $600 would have paid for quite a few more copies and helped out the classroom teachers.
I have no idea how teachers can be expected to teach without textbooks or instructional materials. Saying "kids first" is obviously not the same as doing "kids first" when it comes to setting priorities in this district. Where are you School Board?? Are you going to fix this mess or are you willing to sacrifice the children of this district on the altar of your own hubris?
ReplyDeleteI have cried over this very issue! How can I be "the best that I can be" with books that are torn and 20 years old. On top of this I now have been told that I have paper restrictions.
ReplyDeleteIs it true that the programs at the football game were printed with "overtime" money? The program cost $1.00, but who received the $1.00?
The real question is, " What happens when the teacher’s print quota is reached?"
Speaking of textbooks. Due to budget reductions, some departments at the high school have been forced to pass on textbook adoptions more than once, leaving students to use books so old and tattered that they repeatedly need to be taped together. My son brought home a social studies book last year that looked 20 years old. The staff is doing eveything they can to keep things going. It's time for credit to be given where it is due - teachers and support staff at all schools are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised at the lack of financial irresponiblity, it has been going on for several years now, however that does not excuse it. Someone needs to be held accountable. Apparently Central School District has money for what they think is important (I never knew golf was a necessity) or maybe you just need to be the right person for it to be paid for. Apparently they don't want teachers to feel prepared or students to be able to practice their studies. I would guess $600 probably equals three week of salary for one of your print shop workers. Just think teachers you could have had all your copies made for the first three weeks of school. Shame on Central School District for not providing the basic needs of teachers and students. On another note, like the person above I wonder who is getting the money for the $1.00 programs at the football games. I would also like to know where the money is going for selling the premium seating in the stadium that the tax payers of Monmouth and Independece paid for. I understand doing it for one game, like selling the opportunity to be a assistant coach for a game at fundraisters. Selling season tickets at a public high school is selfish. What about the parents of kids playing football who can't afford those seats. You are making a scio-economic division. You have a beautiful facility that I personally disagreed with how it was funded but it is here now and believe it should be enjoyed by all with no strings attached. Central School District is creating capitalistic motives within programs, pitting programs and people against one another for survival, and creating undue stress. With all this nonsense happening at Central School District, I can understand how school employees and community members are frustrated and tired. Keep up the great work Central Teachers, Assistants, Support Staff, Secretaries & Volunteers!
ReplyDeleteThe money from selling the reserved seats at the stadium is going straight into sport's programs for the kids. Athletic budgets have been slashed and without the extra funds there will be no teams to play in the new stadium. It is very unfortunate that the district no longer supports athletic programs at the high school and the middle school. Like other student activities, sports teach kids about self-discipline, dedication, and team work - important life lessons they will take with them into the future. Kids involved in sports and other activities are more engaged with their school and their community. One indication of this is the higher grades earned by athletes and other involved students. The staff and volunteers responsible for our athletic programs spend a lot of time raising the money necessary to keep the programs going. One solution that has already raised several thousand dollars has been to sell reserved seats. It's by no means an ideal solution; many families simply cannot afford it. If people have other ideas for ways to raise the necessary funds now is the time to come forward and get involved. Our budget problems will not be ending any time soon.
ReplyDeleteSurely you're not suggesting that local businesses only contribute to our schools because the superintendent plays golf with them? You don't think they would understand that, because we often have to appeal to their generosity, we might have better ways to use that money?
ReplyDeleteThat's not what I'm suggesting at all. I'm saying that a little bit of appreciation goes a long way and we are talking $600 in a multi-million dollar budget. Also this is not just for Dr. Hunter (or any of the past superintendents who also did this) to play golf with his buddies. Traditionally this has allowed a team of students to also go play golf and show appreciation to the Chamber.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that a lot of noise is being made about how many ways to split an ever-shrinking pie. The bigger issue is not how we split it but how we make it bigger. This is a problem 20 years in the making. If even a 10th of the energy spent to attack Dr. Hunter was spent dealing with the bigger issue of school funding at the state level, a lot of progress could be made towards solving this problem. It seems to me perspective is lacking here.
1) The golf outings are but one small part of the problem with Hunter.
ReplyDelete2) The problems with Hunter pre-date our current budget woes.
3) I agree with you whole-heartedly that unstable school funding in Oregon is a serious problem. You are welcome to use this blog to inform people about the issue and to start organizing them to work on solving it. As a start you might consider posting a sample letter that readers could send to ther representatives in Salem.